The Portland daily press., 1887-08-16
ANTI-sALooN REPUBLICANS.
A Stirring Address Published by the
New York League.

NEW YORK, Aug. 15.-The Anti-Saloop
Republican League of this State, of which
ex-Judge Noah Davis is president, has lust
issued an interesting and instructive circu-
lar to the people of New York and other
States. Among other things contained in
its dozen columns IS reply to some of the
criticisms that have been made upon the an
ti-saloon movement by Democratic and Pro-
hibition papers to the effect that the pro-
posed reform is only ruse on the part of
Republican politicians. In answer to this
the League has the following to say:
'.The anti,saloon Republican movement is not a
political trick, as some have malevolently
charged 1t was originated by private members
of the party-consi stent temperance advocates
who. believing that the Republican party con
tains vast majority Of the temperance people of
the nation, have appealed to it, not without bright
prospects OF success, TO antagonize the liquor
power, IL Is amoKement primarily in the inter-
ests of temperance"
Then follows stirring address to Repub-
licans, in which the purpose and scope of the
movement are more fully and clearly defined
than has been done before Nearly half the
circular is taken up with extracts from the
written opinions Of leading Republicans of
the country regarding the reform. 1t is
hardly necessary to say that all of them en-
dOrse 1t in the strongest terms, as will be
seen by these examples:
Senator Morrill, hardly know of any meas
ure OF equa' Importance with that of the antsa
loon movement"
Senator Edmunds-"I earnestly hope that the
RepuDlcan party in every State will in every
practleal way make warfare against the saloon
system. Nearly all that has been done in this di-
rectlon, ana think all that will be done in the
next next twenly,iiye years, has been done and will be
done through the Republican party"
senator hoar-"The tpublic must look to the
hepuoncan party for this work on behalf of moral
purify ana righteousness, as it has looked for so
many otnerS 10 the same source. Certainly it can
LOOK Tor no help TO that party which is. and so
long mas Deen, supported and controlled by the
lquor selling interest of the country"
senator Evarts-" There is but one adequate
remedy suitable to political methods, for this
threatened subordination Of the great parties-in
their princlp es, their purposes and their candi-
dates-to the purely private and selfish interests
OF llquor-deallng combinations. That remedy is
by one Of these parties emancpating itself from
this malgn control In shaping the politics of the
country and defying and defeating its power. The
republican party is, | think, prepared to take
rms step and pursue this policy. The Democratic
party VIII thus be driven either to repudiate the
political demands of the saloon interest or TO ex-
pose and advance its purposes. In either case
the course OF the Republican party viii be vindi
Gated, and fair and open political warfare will
De declared all over the country between those
who VIII exat and expand, and those who will
eprtall and destroy the political power Of the sa-
lOon. Ii Is IN this view, as you know, have ap-
and propose TO do so in the future. of our tri-
umph in this great warfare for the welfare of the
people and the sincerity and integrity of the snf-
rage / entertain no doubt"